Wilson’s Defensive Nod Highlights UA’s Pac-12 Awards
Hallie Wilson was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
TUCSON, Ariz. – Nine Wildcats were recognized by the Pac-12 as the conference announced its annual honors, highlighted by Hallie Wilson’s selection as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Wilson and fellow seniors Kellie Fox and Chelsea Goodacre were named first-team all-Pac-12. Katiyana Mauga was named to the second team while Mo Mercado, Mandie Perez and Chelsea Suitos received honorable mentions. Trish Parks was named all-freshman and Ashleigh Hughes was honorable mention all-freshman. Fox and Wilson were placed on the all-defensive team, and Goodacre was an honorable mention all-defensive teamer.
After going six years without one, Arizona now has the last two Pac-12 Defensive Players of the Year as Wilson joins Kellie Fox, who won the award last year. Half of Arizona’s infield is now made of Pac-12 Defensive Players of the Year as the Cats begin their postseason run. Wilson is the first first baseman to win the award.
Wilson has a spectacular .994 fielding percentage, committing just two errors in 363 chances on the season. In her career, Wilson has committed just 10 errors, good for a .990 fielding percentage, which would be ninth best in school history and second best for any non-catcher.
Wilson was also named first-team Pac-12 and placed on the Pac-12 all-defensive team. On the season, Wilson is hitting .381 with 12 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 45 RBI and a .489 on-base percentage. Wilson, who was drafted 28th overall by the USSSA Pride in the NPF Draft, is making her fourth straight appearance on the all-conference team, including third straight first-team nod.
Fox was named to the first-team all-Pac-12 squad and the all-defensive team as well. Fox, who was the 2014 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a conference first-teamer as well, leads the team with a .405 batting average. The senior has nine doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, 62 RBI and a .762 slugging percentage on the season.
Goodacre makes her third consecutive appearance on the all-Pac-12 first-team. The senior leads the country with 79 RBI. Goodacre is hitting .346 with eight doubles, 22 home runs and an .802 slugging percentage in 2015.
Mauga, who was a first-team all-conference player a season ago, is a second-teamer in 2015. The reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year leads the Pac-12 and is third in the NCAA with 25 home runs and second in the Pac-12 and seventh in the country with 72 RBI. Mauga is hitting .346 in 54 starts and leads the team with an .843 slugging percentage.
Mercado, an all-Pac-12 honorable mention performer for the second time, is third on the team with a .369 batting average. The sophomore has nine doubles, six homers and 30 RBI.
Perez, an all-Pac-12 honorable mention performer for the second time, is tied for the team lead with 12 doubles despite registering just 30 starts. Perez is hitting .368 and slugging .621 on the year.
Suitos is making her first career appearance on the all-Pac-12 honorable mention list as she has hit .345 on the season with a .438 on-base percentage. Suitos is second in the conference with 17 steals in 17 attempts.
Parks, who was selected to the all-freshman team, is 14-5 in the circle with a 4.60 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 112.2 innings pitched. The Chino, Calif., native is also hitting .368 with six home runs in 87 at-bats.
Hughes, an honorable mention all-freshman honoree, is hitting .323 in 22 starts in her rookie campaign.
Arizona begins postseason play at the Tucson Regional this weekend. The Cats open the tournament against St. John’s on Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at Hillenbrand Stadium.
For more information on Arizona softball, check out www.arizonawildcats.com and be sure to follow the team’s Twitter and Instagram accounts (@UA_Softball).
